 | STARRING: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel |
Realtor Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is the kind of guy that’s very popular with the ladies. Not popular in the way most guys would want, but popular as a friend. He hangs with all the women at work, while the guys pretty much disgust him. Although Peter is perfectly happy, he discovers it’s a problem after he proposes to his finance Zooey. When planning the wedding he realizes that he doesn’t have a Best Man, or any male friends to fill out the wedding party. That’s the basic premise behind I Love You, Man, the latest comedy from Writer/Director John Hamburg (Along Came Polly, co-writer of Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers)
After a series of comically bad “man dates”, Peter meets Sydney (Jason Segel) at an Open House. Sydney is the kind of free sprit that has an opinion on everything and always says exactly what is on is mind, no matter how crude. They hit it off quickly, which eventually puts a strain on his relationship with Zooey. He spends more and more time with Sydney, and less with her. Peter may have found his Best Man, but will there be a wedding? Peter may have to choose between Zooey and Sydney.
I Love You, Man has laughs throughout. Not big belly laughs, but I think I was at least smiling throughout the entire running time. The “man dates” are funny, especially the one with a man who assumes Peter must be gay. Peter’s awkwardness with male bonding practices combined with Syndey’s crude humor make them a hilarious pairing. An even simple thing like Peter struggling to come up with a nickname becomes a good running joke. Both are very likeable characters, much like what you would see in a Judd Apatow comedy. A subplot in which Peter is trying to sell Lou Ferrigno’s mansion, while a co-worker tries to steal the listing, pays off big when Lou makes an appearance as himself. J.K. Simmons makes the best of his scenes as Peter’s father, who is surprisingly accepting of Peter’s gay younger brother. Paul Rudd starred in the funniest movie I saw last year, Role Models. Now that he has followed that up with a similarly funny movie in I Love You, Man I’d have to say that he is one of the best comedic actors working today. See this one in the theater.
